Improvement in flying targets



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB GLAHN, OF MERIDEN, CONNE'CTICUT,ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELFv AND HOBART C. HULL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLYING TARGETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 52,101, dated June 16, 1874; application filed May 19, 1874.

Fignre l, a side view; and in Fig. 2, a central section. y

This invention relates to an lmprovement in the device known as sportsmans gyrothat is, the device which is thrown into the air by giving to it a sudden rapid rotary mo tion, and which serves as a mark for shooting, instead of live pigeons.

These are usually made from a plate of thin sheet metal, twisted to give the required spiral form, and painted or otherwise coated, so that the shot striking upon the surface will leave a mark; but, in practice, there is so great a liability to deface the surface from other causes than shot, that it is frequently difficult to determine whether the gyro has been hit by shot or whether the defacing arose from other causes. Again, the necessary thinness ofthe metal offers but a slight mark for the sportsman to aim at, and it is often impossible for the sportsman at the score to iind it.

turning.

The object of this invention is to avoid this diiculty; and it consists in combining with the spiral or plate portion of the gyro a detachable axial center-piece or body, which may be easily removed and replaced by another, and upon which the shot must strike.

A B are the two wings of the gyro, of the usual form. Upon the upper center I place a conical or other shaped tip, C, the axis of which is in line with the axis of the wings, and secure it to the wings by an axial bolt, D, whichbinds the two together. On the lower edge of the tip I form a notch, a, to sit over the edge of the win gs to prevent the tip from tip leaves an unmistakable mark, and when so marked the tip may be removed and replaced by a fresh one.

The tip-- may be of a softer material, as paper, leather, wood, &c., so as to be indented or perforated by the shot. Its conical form facilitates the passage of thc gyro through the air.

I claim as my invention A gyro-bird consistingof the sheet-metal wings A B, provided with the removable tip or body C, in axial line with said wings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JACOB GLAHN. lVitnesses:

S. O. CHURCH, E. A. MERRIMAN.

The nut E allows the tip to be easily removed or replaced. The shot striking this 

